 received from the Hon. Robert P. Patterson, Undersecretary of War, who has just written to us as follows. War Department Office of the Undersecretary of War, October 31, 1942, to the men and women of the Edgewood Chemical Warfare Archive, Edgewood, Maryland. This is to inform you that the Army and Navy are conferring upon you the Army-Navy Production Award for Outstanding Achievement in Producing War Equipment. The State of America is typified here today. You men and women here today champions of humanity. You are turning out with incredible speed the much needed materials to afford protection to our armed forces and to make the chemical warfare branch of our Army more formidable. I wish the men on the various fronts could see this great audience and be here to know what this occasion denotes. For if they could, I am sure they would all say in one great swelling voice, I thank you, people and the workers of the Edgewood Arsenal, for giving us this magnificent support. Colonel Black, General Avery, General Rekord, distinguished guests, fellow workers from the Chemical Warfare Service. It has been my good fortune to have had the honor of presenting the Army and Navy E Award to many fine industrial plants throughout the United States, but at none have I had the personal pleasure and satisfaction which is mine today because these are our own factories, our own plants. You who have done this thing which has brought the highest industrial decoration of the Army and Navy to our people, you and I are at home here at the technical, industrial and spiritual core of the Chemical Warfare Service at our personal celebration of our production achievement. General Avery, here is your flag, be yours to fly it high. General Porter, Senator Tidings, General Rekord and fellow workers. In accepting this E Award as commanding general, I do so as the representative of the many employees and workers of Edgewood Arsenal, both those in service and those in civilian pursuits. All the civil service employees of Edgewood Arsenal, I am honored to accept an Emmy Award of these pins. Architect of the universe who has given us this good land for our heritage. We only beseech thee to help us through our industry and devotion to thee to protect this priceless heritage, the four freedoms, even though we must pass through the valley of sacrificial sweat and blood through him who is the foundation of all liberty and justice. Amen.